Hi all --

I knew it was going to be a good day when there was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak over my gate as I left this morning! Most of the activity at Rock Creek Park DC was in the Maintenance Yard, which has been "hot" the last week. Highlight was a female GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER seen well by many birders -- it was the first bird I saw when I entered the yard! This is the second G-W in less than a week (the other a male), as well as multiple Blue-wings and one Brewster's.
The other nice thing was, with some exceptions, many of the birds were well-seen, including one (or was it two?) singing Cape Mays giving great looks, we even saw a cooperative Blackpoll! Diversity was high but overall numbers are still rather low -- and where are the flycatchers?

Warblers: Black-and-White (2), Blue-winged (2, females), Black-throated Green (~8, most heard only), Black-throated Blue (6, again most HO), Blackpoll (5), Blackburnian (1, at picnic area 17/18), Cape May (1-2), Chestnut-sided (3), GOLDEN-WINGED (1, female), Kentucky (1, HO alas), Magnolia (2), Myrtle (~25), Nashville (2), Ovenbird (~6), Parula (3), Redstart (2), Tennessee (2, both seen!), Common Yellowthroat (5).

Other migrants: Yellow-billed Cuckoo (3), Great Crested Flycatcher (2), Red-eyed Vireo (10), Veery (1), Swainson's Thrush (1), Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3), Baltimore Oriole (4, pair has nest near Nature Center), Indigo Bunting (6), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (3), Cedar Waxwing (~25), Lincoln's Sparrow (1).  Also 2 Black-crowned Night-herons and a flock of shorebirds (which I missed) as fly-overs.

Yesterday -- wasn't there unfortunately -- birders in the Maintenance Yard saw a male MOURNING WARBLER and a late Winter Wren, as well as a good crop of other migrants.

Gail Mackiernan (Barry's in England)
Colesville, MD